[Arousal response in child patients in obstructive sleep apnea]

To analyze arousal response of Polysomnography (PSG) in children with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

Fourty-eight children with sleep disorder were studied with 32 guide Polysomnography and analyzed by Polysmith. Sleep structure and arousals of preschool-aged and school-aged children with OSAHS were compared with those of primary snore patients.

The mean value of AHI of preschool aged children with OSAHS was (10.6+/-8.9) h, of AI was (4.0+/-7.1) h, of HI was (6.6+/-4.6) h; The sleep structure between OSAHS group and primary snore group was not significant (P > 0.05). The mean value of ArI with AHI was (8.2+/-5.9) h, of ArI with LM was (19.6+/-5.8) h, whole ArI was 49.3+/-20.4 in preschool-aged children with OSAHS; The mean value of ArI with AHI was (7.6+/-6.3) h, of ArI with LM was (14.3+/-7.6) h, whole ArI was 49.9+/-14.9 in school-aged children with OSAHS. Those of OSAHS children were higher than that of primary snore patients (P < 0.05).

Although OSAHS in children is characterized by a restless sleep, the structure is perfect and mildly affected by OSAHS. The ArI with AHI, with LM and the whole ArI in OSAHS children is higher than those of primary snore patients.